Month: January 2019

Migrant Tales’ first-ever “WARNING: ISLAMOPHOBIC AND XENOPHOBIC CONTENT ON STEROIDS (Katie Hopkins, Tiina Wiik and Junnes Lokka)

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Katie Hopkins, the former columnist who got the boot from the Daily Mail and who has had to pay exorbitant sums for defamation, visited Oulu this week and was the special guests of Tiina Wiik and Junes Lokka, both who have made a name in the same way as Hopkins – by spreading bigotry and Islmophobia.

The Washington Post devised a new rating, the Bottomless Pinocchio, when fake statements are repeated over and over again. President Donald Trump is a prime example of the latter. Others that win Bottomless Pinocchios are Hopkins and the Perussuomalaiset* party.

Tabloids like Iltalehti not only show their shoddy journalism as in a column published by Mika Koskinen,

Erna Bodström, a migration researcher and human rights activist, exposed on Twiter Koskinen’s mistakes.

Sakari Timonen, one of Finland’s most popular columnists, described Koskinen’s column as “crap that attracts a lot of flies.”

Read more about the Bottomless Pinocchio here.

Iltalehti is a tabloid that does not hide its adoration for racists like Katie Hopkins. Here is a story about her visit to Oulu. The headline reads: “Super popular foul-mouthed media personality flew to Oulu to look into the rape of children – [she’s been] accused of racism and  Nazi sympathies led to her firing [in May 2017 after she was shown the door from LBC for Tweeting ‘a final solution’ after the Manchester Arena bombing].”

Hopkins Tweets that she tried to meet the mayor of Oulu, Päivi Laajala, without success.

Continue reading “Migrant Tales’ first-ever “WARNING: ISLAMOPHOBIC AND XENOPHOBIC CONTENT ON STEROIDS (Katie Hopkins, Tiina Wiik and Junnes Lokka)”

WARNING: ISLAMOPHOBIC CONTENT – Laura Huhtasaari (Suomen Uutiset)

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Why is this Islamophobic? Perussuomalaiset* Vice President Laura Huhtasaari usually makes Islamophobic comments on steroids and other times without them. In the news story below, Huhtasaari, who is an avid follower of US President Donald Trump’s and Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s anti-immigration policies, says that her party has the right solutions to migration and wants to join hands with other parties to make Finland a safe country. 

Is this believable? The most racist party in Finland has the answers to solving its migration “problems.” I don’t think so. 

Apart from PS President Jussi Halla-aho, Huhtasaari is the top Islamophobe politician in Finland. She hates Muslims and likes to parrot what other Islamophobes in Europe and elsewhere say. Her call for other parties to cooperate with the PS is a deception.  

Read the full story here.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017 into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way. 

A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

WARNING: XENOPHOBIC CONTENT- “Stripping citizenship from dual citizens” (Yle)

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WHY? The story by Yle flirting with xenophobia or xenophobic? A good news story is one that has different opinions. Certainly, if Interior Minister Kai Mykkänen suggests that naturalization laws should change in light of what happened in Oulu, there are other opinions on the negative impact of such a change in the law. One matter that Mykkänen’s suggestion fuels is suspicion of naturalized Finns and could be seen as a knee-jerk reaction based on populism. Moreover, it will fuel in Finland the perception that naturalized Finns are not “real” Finns and their rights and forfeited.  

The story below unbalanced because it based on power and privilege, which white Finns have, and which migrants and naturalized Finns don’t have.  

Read the full story here.

Migrant Tales to launch new column to warn readers of toxic and racist content on the Internet and print media

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As the parliamentary elections near in April and the EU elections in May, the Finnish print media and social media littered by politicians who are spreading Islamophobic, anti-semitic, racist, Afrophobic, anti-Roma and xenophobic content. 

Each story we pick from the net will get a classification and a short explanation why.

The first one to make it on the list is none other than Sebastian Tynkkynen, a Perussuomalaiset* councilperson who has gained notoriety for his Islamophobic and racist views.

His first posting gets a:

Continue reading “Migrant Tales to launch new column to warn readers of toxic and racist content on the Internet and print media”

Finnish white privilege #58: How the police, media and politicians fuel Finland’s hostile environment against Muslims and migrants

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As the sexual abuse cases in Oulu gather more steam and public outrage, one of the lessons we are overlooking is our reaction and racism. What role do the police, media and politicians play in fostering hostility towards migrants in general and Muslims in particular?

Even if Finland claims to have one of the best education systems in the world and is a society based on social equality, don’t let those matters fool you. They are not meant to be taken seriously if you are a migrant or a member of a minority.

Migrants and minorities in Finland not only live in a society that discriminates against them, but reminds them that they live in a hostile environment.

Kuvahaun tulos haulle sally kohn tweet

The term “shooter” could be replaced by “sexual assault.”

If we look at the 2017 hate-crime report published by the Police University College and what happened to a 10-year-old Muslim girl recently in northern Espoo, who was allegedly attacked because of her hijab by four of her classmates, they are examples of the growing hostility and that words have consequences.

One of the most worrying matters about the latest hate-crime report, which showed that they had jumped by 7.97% to 1,165 cases compared with 1,079 in the previous year, is the 58% rise in attacks due to religion. Most of those attacks were against Muslims.

Hate crime reported to the police is only the tip of the iceberg.

Should we be surrpsied by the growing hostile environment? If look at the reaction of the police, media and politicians to what happened in Oulu, our reaction should not surprise us.

Below is a timeline of the statements by the police and how it racialized what happened in Oulu:

  • December 1: The first statement by the police stating they have in custody seven suspects charged with aggravated sexual assault and abuse of minors;
  • December 4: The police states three days later that the suspects are “of foreign origin” and that contacts with “children” were made through social media. This led in some cases to “serious sexual assault” crimes; 
  • December 5: The sexual abuse case in Oulu grows and now involves three more victims who are minors bringing the total number of suspects in custody to ten. It states that “the suspects have come to the country as asylum seekers and as quota refugees. All of them have lived in Finland for years. Some are naturalized Finns;”
  • December 11: The police publish a picture of one of the suspects who is still at large;
  • December 11: The suspect who was sought by the police is apprehended in Germany;
  • December 12: The police state that they have nothing new to report on the sexual assault cases involving minors;
  • December 18: The police state that the number of minors who are victims is five. For the first time, or after 17 days since the first statement, it speaks out against hate speech. It said that “foreigners or foreign-looking people have been the recent targets of hate speech as well as inappropriate and threatening behavior [by white Finns]. One family of foreign origin with their child  were victims of the above.” The police state that nobody can take the law in his or her hands;
  • January 3: The police publish the name of the suspect in Germany who is detained in that country by the police;
  • January 11: The police said that three suspects who are of foreign origin are in police custody for four new cases of sexual abuse of minors. This took place in summer.

If the police have racialized what happened and thereby in the process – willingly or unwillingly – labelled all Muslims in Finland as rapists, Yle is another culprit spreading the same message.

On an A-studio: talk show on December 13, Yle revealed the nationality of the suspects. When I asked Yle why their nationality was important to know, the state broadcaster responded in an email that since the men “came from countries where women are oppressed,” and “from warzones,” where the risk of sexual abuse is higher, reporting their nationality was the right thing to do.

On the same talk show, the reporter quoted the police as saying that young girls should avoid meeting foreigners on social media sites.

The Islamophobic mindset of some Yle reporters can be clearly seen as in the story below.

The woman wearing a niqab does not represent a political party but the reporter, Jyriki Hara, thought it was a good idea to post. The picture was later removed. It was one of last year’s biggest gaffes of Finnish journalism. Source: Yle.

Politicians, even government ministers, are on the rampage.

Continue reading “Finnish white privilege #58: How the police, media and politicians fuel Finland’s hostile environment against Muslims and migrants”

Helsingin Sanomat:* Väkivalta on aina väärin – silloinkin, kun tekijä on lapsi

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Kaikissa kouluissa on nollatoleranssi kiusaamiselle sekä useita hankkeita sen ehkäisemiseksi ja osallisuuden lisäämiseksi. Hankkeet jäävät kuitenkin tehottomiksi, jos koteja ei saada niihin mukaan.

ESPOOSSA pahoinpideltiin ala-asteikäinen tyttö joulun alla. Pahoinpitelijöinä oli joukko samanikäisiä poikia, ja pahoinpitely tapahtui lasten oman koulun pihalla. Tyttöä oli kiusattu pitkään – erityisesti siitä lähtien, kun hän oli alkanut käyttää uskontonsa perinteen mukaista huivia.

Pahoinpitely aiheutti lapselle fyysisiä ja henkisiä vammoja. Tapaus vaikuttaa meihin kaikkiin muihinkin Espoon asukkaisiin. Ennen muuta se lisää turvattomuudentunnetta. Väkivalta yhtä pientä tyttöä kohtaan kohdistuu meihin kaikkiin.

VÄKIVALTA toista ihmistä kohtaan on väärin, silloinkin, kun väkivallantekijät ovat lapsia. Asioista pitää puhua niiden oikeilla nimillä – se, mikä on väärin, pitää nimetä vääräksi.

Toivomme, että tässäkin tapauksessa – vaikka pahoinpitely tapahtui jo muutama viikko sitten – siitä puhuttaisiin julkisuudessakin teon vakavuutta vähättelemättä. On tärkeää kertoa myös, miten asiaa on jo käsitelty ja miten sen käsittelyä jatketaan nyt uuden lukuvuoden alettua yhdessä koulun, muiden viranomaisten sekä uhrin ja väkivallantekijöiden perheiden kesken. Näin toivottavasti pystytään hillitsemään ­somessa vellovaa keskustelua, joka tosiasioiden sijaan perustuu arvailuille ja huhuille.

MITÄ voisimme tehdä ympä­röivän yhteiskunnan jäseninä, espoolaisina, koulun oppilaiden vanhempina ja yhteisön ­aikuisina? Tästä pahoinpitelystä on vastaisen varalle paljon opittavaa. Omille lapsille pitää ­puhua siitä, mikä on oikein: heikoimmassa asemassa olevan puolelle pitää asettua, ja kaikki on otettava mukaan. On puhuttava myös siitä, mitä pitää vastustaa: kaikenlaista syrjimistä, kiusaamista ja väkivaltaa.

Kaikissa kouluissa on nolla­toleranssi kiusaamiselle sekä useita hankkeita sen ehkäisemiseksi ja osallisuuden lisäämiseksi.

Hankkeet jäävät kuitenkin tehottomiksi, jos koteja ei saada niihin mukaan. Luottamusta pitää rakentaa koulun, kodin ja muiden viranomaisten välille. Sitä tarvitaan erityisesti silloin, kun on puhuttava ikävistä ja vaikeista asioista.

VÄÄRÄ TEKO on aina väärä teko riippumatta siitä, kehen se kohdistuu tai kuka on vääryyden­tekijä. Se pitää sanoa vääräksi, ja siitä pitää seurata konkreettisia toimenpiteitä. Alakoulussa tapahtuneen väkivallan pitää herättää kodit ja koulu yhdessä miettimään, mikä on pielessä. Näissä tilanteissa vaaditaan johtajuutta, myös mielipidejohtajuutta.

KUN lapset ovat nyt palanneet joululoman jälkeen kouluun, meillä kaikilla on oikeus vaatia yhdenvertaista kohtelua, lasten suojelemista sekä aikuisten vastuuta turvallisesta kasvuympäristöstä ja yhteiskuntarauhan ylläpitämisestä.

Meidän yhteinen tehtävämme on kantaa näistä asioista vastuuta niin, että lapsikin sen tajuaa.

Habiba Ali

kaupunginvaltuutettu (sd), Espoo

Abbas Bahmanpour

Resalat islamilaisen yhdyskunnan imaami, Helsinki

Kaisamari Hintikka

Espoon evankelis-luterilaisen hiippakunnan piispa electa, Espoo

isä Heikki Huttunen

Filoksenia ry:n puheenjohtaja, Bryssel?/?Espoo

*Lue kirjoitus Helsingin Sanomissa tässä.

When will we know the truth about what happened to the 10-year-old Muslim girl who was violently attacked?

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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

A letter to the editor in Friday’s Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest daily, puts into question statements by the police and the principal of the Juvankoski school, where a 10-year-old girl wearing a hijab was attacked last month by four of her classmates.  

Despite the young age of the children, are they capable of racist bullying and harassment? One case in Mikkeli a few years ago shows how cruel children can be.

The Länsi-Uusimaa police claimed in a December 20 statement that racism did not play a role in the terrible incident.

“On social media and the Internet, possible racist motives have been suggested for the assault that took place in a school in Northern Espoo on 17 December. No such motives have come up in the investigation by the police,” the police statement claims.

As far as we know, the picture above is of the Muslim girl who was attacked. It reads: “What do they teach [children] at Finnish homes? That Muslims are terrorists? The little girl [in the picture above] is spending a normal day at school when four boys [classmates] tried to rip off her hijab from her head and kicked her unconscious. We are not talking now about a migrant but about a victim. @iltalehti [tabloid] I want you to write out loud that racism must stop once for all, this girl is an angel!”

In Helsingin Sanomat, the Juvanpuisto school principal, Vesa Äyräs,  was quoted as saying: “I don’t have any information about that [that racism played a role].”

Continue reading “When will we know the truth about what happened to the 10-year-old Muslim girl who was violently attacked?”

Onko Suomen ulkomaalaispolitiikkaa muuttunut paljon 1980-luvulta?

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Migrant Talesin kommentti: Tässä on kirjoitus Näköpiiri lehdestä 1980-luvun alussa, joka käsitteli Suomen ulkomaalaispolitiikkaa. Onko paljon muuttunut niistä ajoista kun ulkomaalaistoimiston toimistopäällikkö Eila Kännö johti nykyinen Maahanmuuttovirasto? Jutussa lukee: “Väitän, että sillä miten viranomaiset ja lehdistö kohtelevat maassamme vakituisesti tai tilapaisesti oleskelevia ulkomaalaisia on hyvin suuri merkitys ja vaikutus somalaisten yleiseen suhtautumiseen ulkomaalaisuuteen.”

Continue reading “Onko Suomen ulkomaalaispolitiikkaa muuttunut paljon 1980-luvulta?”

Finnish white privilege #57: Finland’s “hostile environment” against migrants

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UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s policy nurtured a climate of suspicion called today the “hostile climate” in which people are deemed guilty unless they can prove themselves innocent.

Does Finland have a hostile climate against migrants like in the UK? One could answer in the affirmative after listening to a long list of politicians who don’t have anything better to do but to label migrants, especially Muslims, as “problematic” to Finnish society. 

It is no coincidence that three National Coalition Party politicians, President Sauli Niinistö, Speaker of Parliament Paula Risikko, and Interior Minister Kai Mykkänen, perpetrate the hostile environment with their coded comments charged with suspicion and contempt.

When was the last time you heard them say something nice about migrants and how they contribute to the economic wellbeing of Finland?

Instead of saying something positive and inclusive, they create a climate of suspicion – like in the UK – of migrants, especially Muslims.

If we are fair, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä did surprise us in his New Year’s speech by stating that crimes committed by a few individuals should not stigmatize whole groups. Better late than never or too little too late?

Instead of talking about how bad migrants are, why didn’t President Niinistö mention a study published in November by the European Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA) that concluded that Finland was the most hostile country to blacks ou of 12 EU countries surveyed? Why didn’t he tell us how we are going to combat racism in general and racism in particular against black people?

In his traditional New Year’s speech, Niinistö prefered to label migrants in a negative light by suggesting that they should take responsibility by “exerting control” over the actions of their members. Are such controls possible if migrants are a diverse group made up of different individuals?

What about the speaker of parliament, Risikko, who spoke about eight suspects in a sexual assault case who are Muslims and how laws on residence permits should be tightened as a result of these suspects?  Why does she only talk about crimes committed by migrants and doesn’t say a word about similar sexual crimes committed against minors by white Finns?

Watch the full interview with Speaker of Parliament Paula Risikko here.

Why didn’t she say anything about our Islamophobia problem and a study published in May by the Pew Research Centre that revealed almost two-thirds (62%) of those Finns surveyed believe that Islam is incompatible with the culture and values of Finland?

Continue reading “Finnish white privilege #57: Finland’s “hostile environment” against migrants”